NHS Wirral – Dr Abhi Mantgani

A full update was given on page 15 of the Forum papers.  Dr Mantangi drew attention to the following activities:

A new drop in services for patients suffering from neurological/mental health conditions and their families at Parkfield Medical Centre.  Contact GP practice for more details.

Health Trainers – would be attached to practices in the most challenged areas for people at high risk, to get support to change lifestyle.  Support would be provided on a 1:1 basis. 

Have Your Say – encouraging patients and the public to provide feedback on GPs, hospital and community services and to help improve services.

Listen Up – radio programme and phone in on 7 Waves Radio.

Patient Participation Groups – encouraging to have a say on how services are delivered.  Contact GP practices or NHS Wirral if interested in joining a group.

Birkenhead Medical Building – now open and was a fantastic facility.  It would include a Minor Injuries Centre, specialist services such as podiatry, physiotherapy and also hoped that Social Services would have an input. 

Woodchurch Road Surgery – would be relocating to a new building in Townfield Close, Noctorum and able to offer improved health services in the area.

Leasowe Medical Centre – this centre has closed.  Anyone having any difficulty registering with a GP practice should contact NHS Wirral.

Q - What is the point of having a Walk In when not able to see a doctor?

A - Walk In Centres are generally nurse-led.  We try to reduce the number of people going to Accident and Emergency with minor injuries so they can be treated at Walk In Centres. 

Q - Expectation was that would see a doctor.

A - If that impression was given, this is incorrect so would feed that back to ensure that staff explain this to patients when they arrive

Wirral University Teaching Hospital – Director David Rowlands

A full update was given on page 20 of Forum papers.  David Rowlands drew the Forum’s attention to the following:

Translated locally, Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is required to make efficiency savings in the order of £14.3 million in 2010/11, with further, similar levels of savings being required in the foreseeable future.

Planned improvements – 12 bed Heart Assessment Unit, creation of new Haematology Day Unit, development of a new Respiratory Lab, new TIA (“mini stoke”) clinic to be established to enhance provision of services for stroke patients.

Capital Investment – continuing with the £30million, 3 year development programme at Arrowe Park Hospital.  This includes an £11.5million investment to provide a dedicated Woman and Children’s Hospital, bringing together all acute hospital services for women and children.

Childrens Outpatient Department – this opened at end of 2009, with a new ‘Ronald McDonald House’ facility to benefit families who need to stay close to their sick children.

New Surgical Elective Admissions Lounge (SEAL) – opened to patients on 24 May. 

Infection Control – putting measures in to reduce infection rates, which have already gone down significantly. 

Care Quality Commission – Arrowe Park Hospital awarded unconditional registration to provide healthcare services under a new, tougher system for regulating standards in the NHS.

Arrowe Park Hospital in the top 40 hospitals for the third year.

Come and Join Us – we want to involve members of the public to help shape future services.  Currently we have 8,500 Public Members and would like to recruit more.  Also if anyone would like to stand as a Public Governor we would encourage you to put your name forward.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service – Dave Watson

A full update provided on page 12 of the Forum papers and Dave highlighted the following activities:

House Fires – trying to keep to a minimum and campaigns have been very successful.  The target was to reduce by 12%.  We would encourage people to take advantage of home fire safety checks and if you know anyone who might benefit let us know.  Contact details are given on page 14 and we will arrange a visit.

Bidston Hill – recent number of fires and we have taken steps to reduce these.  Wirral Community Patrol and Rangers are assisting us in this.  2 youths were caught setting fires through these patrols.  We want to encourage vigilance and people should get in touch with Community Fire Stations.

Q – reported 4-5 times fires on Bidston Hill and found jacket which Police had checked and then discarded in bin. 

A – Inspector McGreggor would check details at end of the meeting.

Q – Fly tipping reported to Street Scene, delay and then rubbish can then be set on fire.  Are you working to try and see that rubbish is cleared?

A – There were a number of groups who try to get up there regularly and incidents should be kept to a minimum.  Please go through the usual reporting mechanisms.

Q – from a resident of a local 8 year housing estate.  Small kitchens means a large number of smoke alarms go off and people have removed or disabled them.  Could you factor that in to your visits?

A – Police offered to produce a letter and deliver to make sure people are aware this is a safety issue and get Police Community Support Officers to deliver.  Please pass details on at end of Forum.

Merseyside Police – Inspector Roy McGreggor

Full stats were available for people to take away this evening and Inspector McGreggor highlighted the following:

Burglary/vehicle crime has never been lower. 

Trying to get more engagement with community so you can tell us what your priorities are. 

Antisocial behaviour is a crime that concerns people so doing a lot of our work on that at the moment and recently undertaken a door knock exercise to get views about issues.  Some intelligence had been given which enabled us to do drug warrants.  Identified 10 young people causing majority of anti social behaviour and referred them to the Anti Social Behaviour Team and Wirral Partnership Homes to see if breaching tenancy agreements.  We were trying to engage with the young people who cause anti social behaviour and provide alternatives, such as football and circuit training. 

Another issue reported to us was dogs and dog fouling and we are now able to issue ‘on the spot’ penalty fines.

Issue raised at the last Forum was Neighbourhood Action Groups (NAGs) and it was felt that these weren’t reflective of residents needs.  Hoping to know have regular monthly residents meetings in 10 set locations.  Advance notice would be advertised and if anyone wanted to leave their email address, they would be emailed about the date.  These new residents meetings should provide key information on what is happening in your area and what you want us to tackle, with the residents themselves setting the priorities.

Staffing levels – Inspector McGreggor confirmed that the Police Station at Laird Street covered 4 wards and each has 1 dedicated Police Officer and 2 Community Support Officers.  There were also an additional 3 sergeants and 9 constables to support them. 

Lot of reports recently around motor bikes and an initiative took place on Sunday at Bidston Moss, which we hope to repeat regularly

Q – what action is being taken regarding the man exposing himself on Bidston Hill? I was recently subject to this, as was my daughter and am also aware of others.

A – all incidents need to be reported to the Police.  I will get details from you after the meeting. 

since the area forum the man in question has been arrested

Q – do you deal with cars parked up on pavements?  Heather Brow particularly bad as people have to walk on the road and emergency vehicles can’t get down.

A – have to use some discretion as some roads are narrow and people do try and keep the roads clear.  However obstructions can be dangerous.

Q – you said that Neighbourhood Action Groups don’t appear to be working.  I raised at the last Forum that we only got late notification of meetings taking place.

A – lot of good work in the Neighbourhood Action Groups, however it was not working for residents to have a voice and give us their priorities. Community involvement is an important issue and Police need to be more proactive with the community and not rely on you to bring information to us.

Q – teachers from School and people attending Quaker Church are parking on pavements in Slatey Road.  There were a lot of older people in the area and mothers with children who are having to walk out on into the road.  Can anything be done?

A – once a month each ward officer has a spotlight traffic day.  Also will send out letters to the school and church to remind them, to try and alleviate this.

Q – Slatey Road area also has a vandalism problem again. 

A – do you report that to Police, as we can only respond to what we know.  There is Police Officer attached to Park High School and will alert him to that.

Q – people are too frightened of consequences to report incidents. 

A – officers will go where problems are, but they do need to know.  When incidents are reported, Police do not have to call at their address, so please pass that message on.

Q - Councillor Smith reported, as a regular attendee at Neighbourhood Action Groups, it was always local area reps that were invited and a lot of action was taken subsequently.  Main problem has been late notification of meetings, so for the residents meeting could you please give as much notice as possible. 

A – would be advertised on the website and Newsletter and meetings would be on regular dates and at set locations.

Q – Problems of youths drinking in Hoylake Road area.

A – it is an issue, we will be running operations in the summer to target.

Community Safety – Cathy Newman

Update given on page 7 of Forum papers and Cathy highlighted the following:

Community Safety Team works in partnership with Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service and Merseyside Police.  Makes people aware of crime and how to avoid being a victim. 

There are nearly 1000 various Neighbourhood Watch Groups including Business Watch and the newly formed Allotment Watch.

Domestic Violence work and safety for those families has been recognised nationally as good practice.  Now developing a Hate Crime MARAC covering all the strands around diversity.  Holding a workshop in Birkenhead Park Pavilion in June and hoping for reps from community to put Hate MARAC Committee together. 

Seasonal security issues – awareness raising for people to be vigilant.

Q – some residents fear going out at night can anything be done to give them greater confidence?

A – Crime Prevention Officers within the Community Safety Team who could go and talk to them.